SKIPTON FEMALE SALE 2015

Plenty of positives at Skipton Charollais females highlight

Strong demand, robust commercial trade, a good clearance rate – said to be the best in recent years – and four figure prices for the two top sellers, were the order of the day at the 11th annual show and sale of pedigree breeding females staged under the auspices of the British Charollais Sheep Society at Skipton Auction Mart. (Sat, Oct 10)

Father and son Charles and Stephen Marwood’s Foulrice flock, based at Whenby, near York, twice hit 1,000gns, the first for the day’s champion, a strong shearling that was among the family’s show team this year. The victor is by Langstone K2, a Wraycastle i-pod son bred by Nick and Mimi Hart in Hereford and acquired as a lamb by Mr Marwood for 1,000gns.

Out of a home-bred ewe by Foulrice Kestrel, who has some French H13 breeding in it, she sold carrying triplets to Loweyre Neil’s Favourite, another 1,000gns Marwood acquisition at the 2013 Premier Sale, to DB Roberts, of Shrewsbury.

Next out at the same price was the Marwoods’ second prize Foulrice shearling, sired by the home-bred Lightening, the family’s senior stock ram and itself by Castellau Krypton, out of a Rainbow Komodo Dragon ewe. The buyers were Robert and Samuel Tindall, who run the Linton Springs pedigree flock in Wetherby.

A third sheep from Foulrice was a smart shearling sired by Rhaeadr Nock, the 2015 Great Yorkshire Show Interbreed champion, out of a dam line going back to the renowned Filibuster, with twins inside her by Westonvale Jubilee. She sold for 750gns to an undisclosed buyer.

The reserve champion was the first prize ewe lamb from Northants breeders Geoff and Carol Watson, of Eastbrook Hill, Desborough. She is by Tilton Lancelot, bought privately as a lamb from Leicestershire breeder Alan Thomas, out of a home-bred ewe by the highly regarded stock tup, Bincombe Kirk Patrick, a multiple Interbreed champion who has also produced interbreed champions himself. The runner-up sold for 500gns to N&ML Breese, of Caernarfon, near Gwynedd in Wales.

Ewe lambs performed well, especially the final consignment of the day from Ian Bradshaw, who runs the Fosgrove pedigree flock in Somersham, Cambridgeshire, but is unfortunately suffering from ill health.

The offering, all of which were sired by Glyn Coch Main Man, created a great deal of interest. The pen leader sold for 550gns, top price in class, to Robert Towers, of Camp House, Farleton Lancaster. Next best was 450gns, a further acquisition by N&ML Breese.

The Marwoods completed a good day by selling their second prize Foulrice ewe lamb, a Loweyre Neil’s Favourite daughter, for 550gns to E McCann, of Askam-In-Furness.

In a standalone class for ewes, both first and second prizes fell to entries from the Forth House flock of Abraham Jaeban at Isel, Cockermouth. The red rosette winner was by Halfpenny Kaiser, bred by Stephen Hodgson in Patrick Brompton and a former Great Yorkshire Show terminal champion, while the runner-up was by Aberinskey Jackpot. Both were in-lamb to Kirkhouse Optimus, the Great Yorkshire 2014 champion, and each made 300gns. Both fell to JR Dennis, of Over Stilton, Thirsk.

Robert and Samuel Tindall were also among the prizes when presenting the third prize shearling ewe, also by Halfpenny Kaiser and scanned with twins to Rutland Ensign. She sold for 400gns to Scottish buyer J Andrew, of Ayr.

The third prize ewe lamb from Cyril Dougherty’s Shamrock flock in Kirkby Misperton, Malton, by Oakchurch Lukasz, made 420gns on joining Ballaharry Farms on the Isle of Man.

Of the remainder, also catching the eye was Thomas Mawer, of Kelby, Grantham, who sold two shearling ewes for 450gns, with John Stott Jnr, of Stainton, Kendal, also achieving 450gns in the same class.

DUNGANNON SALE 2015

NI CHAROLLAIS PREMIER SALE, DUNGANNON

It was standing room only at the Charollais sheep Premier Sale in Dungannon with buyers from across the UK and Southern Ireland represented at the sale resulting in good demand from both pedigree and commercial breeders. Trade was a lot better than anticipated with the depressed lamb trade although falling away towards the end of the sale as buyers filled up.

The Tullyear Flock of Drew and Stephen Cowan had a memorable day winning the Overall Championship in the Pre Sale Show and also taking top price with their 1st prize shearling ram Lot 13, lucky for some! Judge Mr Edward Buckley from County Cork chose his Champion from the 1st Prize Early December born Ram Lamb Class, sired by last year’s top priced ram, Tullyear Oman. The Judge commented that this was “a very correct ram with great length and stature, superb skin and great muscle”. The Judge later backed up his judgement in the sale ring purchasing Tullyear Perfection for 1200gns.

Reserve Champion went to the winner of the late December ram lamb class, John Graham’s Riverview Flock, this lot selling for 520gns. First in the January Class was a smart Rhaeadr Norman son presented by the Carnew Flock of Jonathan Aiken this lot selling for 660gns. Taking 1st in the shearling ram class and also the top price of the day was a tremendous shearling ram from the Tullyear pen, sired by a homebred ram. This lot sold to a Rathfriland buyer for 2400gns.

Female Champion was won by Ronnie Scott and sons with a smart Ashtonelle Kamalot sired ewe lamb out of a Doughery dam, this lot selling for 550gns. J Thompson and Sons Animal feeds sponsored Group of Three was won by Drew and Stephen Cowan.

Top lamb price of 1400gns went to Ian Craig and his Ballynoe House Flock this Lisfuncheon sired ram stood second in the late December line up and was sold to David Roberts, Shrewsbury. The Ballynoe House pen also sold their second prize Early December ram for 1200gns, a Gogwell King of Trumps son, purchased by Graham Foster. McConnell Brothers sold to a top of 1000gns for a Lornbrook Nutcracker son this one selling to Dympna and Gerry Grogan, County Kildare.

Also selling to 1000gns was Lot 19 a shearling ram from the Lornbrook Flock of Diane Christie and Trevor Bell, County Donegal Breeder Jim Devenney purchasing this Hollylodge Made To Measure Son, who stood third in the Shearling Class.

Chairman William McAllister sold his second placed shearling for 950gns, this great carcase Leelaw Hardnut son, selling to County Down. Top priced female was sold by Stephen MaCauley achieving 560gns for his second placed Rhaeadr Oak sired ewe lamb.

Averages :23 Shearlings sold to average 675gns up 41gns from last year.
63 Ram Lambs averaged 477gns down slightly
7 ewe lambs sold for 428gns.
Top shearling pen was Drew and Stephen Cowan averaging 977gns for 6.
Top ram lamb pen was Ian Craig with 633gns for 6.
Club Chairman,William McAllister expressed his thanks to Danske Bank, Dungannon Market and J Thompson and Sons Animal Feeds

STIRLING PREMIER SALE 2015

Champion Charollais from Leelaw top Stirling Sale at 2,200 gns

The Champion Charollais at the Scottish Premier Sale held at Stirling Market on Wednesday (8th July) sold to the judge from 2,200 gns. Leelaw Pure Dead Brilliant (its Glasgow slang meaning exceptionally good) was from Russell Gray, Langside Farm, Kirkfieldbank, Lanarkshire. Earlier in the season the ram lamb had triumphed at the Royal Highland Show. Putting him in the championship spot and also paying 2,200 gns was Andrew Walton from Backford in Cheshire. “The ram was a clear standout animal for me; growth and power matched by his terrific fleshing, correct and with that extra bit of style. I am looking forward to using him on our 150 Rainbow ewe flock later this month.”

His sire was Oakchurch Ozil who was the interbreed champion at the Royal Highland Show this year.

Taking the reserve ticket was a high-index lamb from the Cannahars flock of Howard and Andrew Davies from Aberdeenshire. Going to 1,000 gns was Society Inspector, Mr Robert Gregory of the Edstaston Flock in Shropshire. “This lamb really caught my eye, great shape and fleshing with some different bloodlines and in the top 5% for performance.” His sire was Loaningfoot Lieutenant Brown out of a Banwy Hornblower ewe.

Next in the figures was a ram lamb from the winning group of three from Welsh breeder, Arwel Owen, Welshpool. His son of Foulrice Leon from his Banwy Flock went back to Wales at 800 gns to Colin Bowen, who had travelled all the way from Pembrokeshire for the sale.

James Clanachan from Dumfriesshire won the January born ram lamb class with his son of Crogham Lambert and was rewarded with a bid of 650 gns.

WORCESTER PREMIER SALE 2015

Trade for Charollais rams at the breeds premier sale was buoyant and much on a par with the previous year, despite the gloom over prime lamb prices around the UK. Buyers were looking for well-grown tups with plenty of shape and muscle.

The Ingram family from Aberdeenshire were topping the trade with 7,000 gns for a shearling ram, Logie Durno Olympian. His sire was Crogham Lambert out of a Rockvilla Golden Promise ewe with a strong record of top-priced progeny. The ram was reserve shearling ram in the pre-sale show classes and was knocked down to renowned Limousin cattle breeder, Mr Michael Alford from Foxhill Farm in Devon. Between the two flocks; Logie Durno and Loanhead the Ingrams achieved 7 out of 10 of the top shearling ram prices.

In the show classes the champion and reserve tickets went to another top stockman, Mr Myfyr Evans from Llanrhaeadr, near Denbigh. His powerful ram lamb, Rhaeadr Prospect took the Championship ticket and sold for 4,000 gns to McConnell Bros from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. His sire was Wernfawr Neo out of a Parkgate Hurricane ewe.

The reserve award was also from the Rhaeadr flock, this time a shearling ram Rhaeadr Orlando, also by Wernfawr Neo and out of a Parkgate Hurricane ewe. The Ingrams went to 5,500 gns to secure his services.

Top-price ram lamb at 5,500 gns went to the aptly named Logie Durno Perfection; an embryo transfer lamb by Logie Durno Officer out of a Logie Durno Jackpot ewe. This lamb was highly fleshed with excellent performance results for muscle depth and growth. Buyer for him was Robert Whittaker from the Hundalee Flock in Jedburgh.

Two breeders who had highly successful days where from each end of the age spectrum; youth and veteran showed the way. Representing the youth was Abbie Mosley from Knockin, near Oswestry who could hardly contain her delight when her great pen of lambs peaked at 4,400 gns for Knockin Pucker Up. This son of Rainbow Lindisfarne out of Knockin Lulu, a prolific show winner by Arjane Jumanji, was the choice of Myfyr Evans. Another Lindisfarne sired tup lamb made 2,700 gns and again had great performance figures and was knocked down to Norman McMordie for his Riverdale flock together with M & S Riley, Tullyhurbbert Flock, both from Northern Ireland.

Long time Charollais breeder, Lionel Organ from Llandysul attracted a top bid of 4,000 gns for his huge ram lamb, Tymaen Poundstretcher. This lamb weighed 83 kgs at 147 days with a 35.3 mm eye muscle which put him in the top 5% of the breed. Splitting the cost was John Andrew from Ayrshire together with the Ingrams.

Another young breeder was investing in some top bloodlines, George Eves from the Terracotta Flock, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire went to 2,900 gns for Logie Durno Powerpacker; a son of Logie Durno Officer.

Rhaeadr Prince from Myfyr Evans was sold for 2,800 gns to Justin Evans from St Andrews, Glamorgan from his Sant Andras Flock; another Wernfawr Neo son; this time out of a BallyhibbenKracker ewe. Not far behind from the same pen at 2,500 gns was Rhaeadr Paddy Power which sold to Aled Shenton from Gwynedd for his Ardudwy Flock.

Mrs Jennifer Curtis from Evesham, Worcs saw the highest recorded ram lamb from her Elmwick Flock knocked down for 2,300 gns to John Davies from Stock on Trent. His sire was Elmwick Mr McGregor and had a 3rd prize card in the classes. Topping a strong pen of lambs from David and Paul Curran from Brecon, Powys was Wernfawr Platinum by Wraycastle Dai Hard and was the choice of Ian Matthews from Powys.